Bushiee46
20-12-2006, 16:20
Bradley Smith declared himself delighted after being named in the Repsol Honda team for next year’s 125cc world championship.
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6251&stc=1&d=1166628005
The 16-year-old Briton, who finished 19th overall with the works team this season and took rookie of the year honours, was confirmed as the 2007 provisional entry list was announced, despite rumours he would be placed in a satellite squad.
Smith told eurosport.com: "It's brilliant [that I'm staying]. I knew it anyway a little before it was announced, but to see it on paper is really good.
"It was never an option for me not to stay with the Repsol squad. I was never offered a ride by anyone else, it was just other people talking about me.
"As far as I was concerned, if I had a chance to stay with Repsol then I was going to. I had 100 per cent faith in [mentor] Alberto [Puig] to pull it off, and he did."
Smith will partner Spaniard Esteve Rabat, 17, who was 23rd in the championship this year joins from the satellite BQR squad, and German Stefan Bradl, also 17, who was dumped by Red Bull KTM after ending up 26th overall.
But he is not daunted by the challenge that the duo will pose to him, and is just glad to have team-mates to measure himself against.
"After not having a team-mate this year, these guys will raise the level of competition - and raise my level of competition too, and that will make us all a lot sharper I think.
"I have known both of them for a couple of years and raced against them before, so it should be a good season.2
Smith will be one of at least two Britons riding Hondas in the 125cc world championship next season, after Danny Webb was confirmed on an Arie Molenaar machine.
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6251&stc=1&d=1166628005
The 16-year-old Briton, who finished 19th overall with the works team this season and took rookie of the year honours, was confirmed as the 2007 provisional entry list was announced, despite rumours he would be placed in a satellite squad.
Smith told eurosport.com: "It's brilliant [that I'm staying]. I knew it anyway a little before it was announced, but to see it on paper is really good.
"It was never an option for me not to stay with the Repsol squad. I was never offered a ride by anyone else, it was just other people talking about me.
"As far as I was concerned, if I had a chance to stay with Repsol then I was going to. I had 100 per cent faith in [mentor] Alberto [Puig] to pull it off, and he did."
Smith will partner Spaniard Esteve Rabat, 17, who was 23rd in the championship this year joins from the satellite BQR squad, and German Stefan Bradl, also 17, who was dumped by Red Bull KTM after ending up 26th overall.
But he is not daunted by the challenge that the duo will pose to him, and is just glad to have team-mates to measure himself against.
"After not having a team-mate this year, these guys will raise the level of competition - and raise my level of competition too, and that will make us all a lot sharper I think.
"I have known both of them for a couple of years and raced against them before, so it should be a good season.2
Smith will be one of at least two Britons riding Hondas in the 125cc world championship next season, after Danny Webb was confirmed on an Arie Molenaar machine.